Onslaught Unleashed #1Review

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The scourge of the '90s returns once more.

By Jesse Schedeen

Few comic book characters are simultaneously as beloved and reviled as Onslaught. Many readers who fell out of the hobby in the '90s point towards the Onslaught crossover as the direct reason for their deflated interest in superhero comics. Others simply find the idea of Magneto and Charles Xavier merging to form the ultimate villain the greatest idea in the history of pop culture. Okay, so maybe the two sides aren't so evenly balanced.

But there must be some who are still foaming at the mouth to read more Onslaught stories. Onslaught Unleashed comes in the wake of Onslaught Reborn and the integration of Rikki Barnes into the regular Marvel Universe. In this mini-series, Onslaught has once again broken the barrier between worlds, and only a ragtag band of heroes are on hand to stop his return.

In some ways, Onslaught Unleashed seems to be a case of diminishing returns. Whereas the original crossover featured essentially every hero of note in the Marvel Universe, Unleashed stars only the Secret Avengers and the Young Allies. Nor can this series boast any of the original creators involved with Onslaught. But at the end of the day, these qualities work in the book's favor. The reduced cast allows for a slightly more intimate storyline, and it's not as if the presence of familiar creators on Onslaught Reborn did that series any favors.

Fans of the short-lived Young Allies series will find the most enjoyment out of this book. In fact, it wouldn't be surprising to learn that writer Sean McKeever adapted some of his unused plans for the book for use in this project. The whole gang is reunited, with Nomad naturally taking center stage. A series of recurring nightmares plaguing Rikki and evidence of strange things going on in a remote facility are enough to put Steve Rogers and the Secret Avengers on the case. Those few scenes where the Young Allies are allowed to interact amongst each other are easily the strongest of the book. As oversaturated as the industry is with teen heroes, McKeever continues to prove there is some niche for the Young Allies to occupy.

McKeever isn't quite so successful with the Secret Avengers. They're present because some Avengers team needs to be, and because their modus operandi happens to fit the conflict the best. Only Moon Knight, Beast, and Steve Rogers receive any significant attention. Considering the state of the main Secret Avengers book, it's nice to see the former two in the spotlight at least. In the end, the general plot and the mystery surrounding Roxxon's facility is largely forgettable so far. Onslaught himself barely factors into the events of this issue. In that sense, the real test for this book is yet to come. It's a treat being able to read more of the Young Allies, but the book is dealing with a very controversial villain. How McKeever chooses to handle the battle against Onslaught could easily cause the series to sink or swim. Considering the meager roster of heroes facing Onslaught this time, it's enough to hope that McKeever has something more unpredictable in mind for the remaining four issues than a purely physical battle royale.

McKeever is joined on this book by artist Filipe Andrade, who has been handling the Nomad backup feature in the pages of Captain America recently. Frankly, Andrade's work has never been a draw. His work is incredibly loose and sketchy, almost like rough storyboard art rather than finished, refined pencils. Andrade does improve his style to some extent. Characters and backgrounds exhibit a bit more detail and consistency. And there is a certain vitality and energy Andrade brings to his work. Still, these pages are abstract and stylized almost to the point of being unreadable at times.

Onslaught's name may still be mud for many readers, but his latest return is nowhere near as bad as it could have been. Hopefully this series will deliver a few surprises in the coming months and offer plenty more memorable material involving Nomad and the Young Allies.